Vehicle



May 21, 1935. w. M. SHEEHAN VEHICLE Filed July 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet Alva/07g y 1, 1935. w, M. SHEEIV-IAN 2,002,356

VEHICLE Filed July 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 21, 1935.

w. M, SHEEHAN 2,002,356

VEHICLE Filed July 16, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 21, 1935.

W. M. SHEEHAN VEHICLE Filed July 16, 1932 5 SheetsSheet 4 Wye/War Mam M flies/M y 1935- w. M. SHEEHAN 2,002,356

VEHICLE Fild July 16, 1932 S'Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 21, 1935 UNITED STATES VEHICLE William M. Sheehan, Merion, Pa., assignor to General Steel Castings Corporation, Granite City, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Application July 16, 1932, Serial No. 622,927

28 Claims.

The invention relates to vehicles used in mines, quarries, and in similar service where the vehicle is tilted or inverted to dump its load.

The main object of the invention is to increase 5 the capacity of such a vehicle to the maximum extent possible with a given width, length and height of the vehicle.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rigid structure adapted to withstand the shocks,

l blows, and other heavy forces sustained from heavy chunks of material being dropped into the vehicle, from the buffing and draft forces applied to the vehicle, and from the stresses resulting from the dumping and other operations of 15 the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide a smooth interior for the vehicle to eliminatejoints or crevices where dust, moisture, and other elements having a corrosive action can accumulate 20 and act to weaken the structure or permit its contents to escape.

The above objects are common to the present application and to co-pending applications filed by the present applicant, Serial Nos. 594,687, and

25 616,673, and 619,226, filed February 23, 1932, June 11, 1932, and June 25, 1932, respectively. More particularly a substantial part of the present invention lies in the arrangement of the vehicle underframe and lower body structure to best ac- 30 commodate brake rigging without reducing the capacity of the vehicle and without positioning the brakegrigging where it is likely to project beyond the clearance limits established for the operation of the vehicle.

35 All of the above objects and other detailed objects, as will be referred to below, are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a top view of a mine car under- 40 frame and lower body structure,

Figures 2, 4 and 5 are vertical longitudinal sections taken on the corresponding section lines of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the structure 45 shown in Figure l. 1

Figures 6, 7, and 8 are vertical transverse sections taken on the corresponding section lines of Figure 1.

' Figure 9 is an end elevation of one-half of the 50 vehicle looking at the right-hand end of the same.

Figure 10 is a similar elevation looking at the left-hand end of the vehicle.

Figure 11 is a detail horizontal section taken on 55 the line ll-l| of Figure 3.

Figure 12 is a. top view of one longitudinal half of a modified underframe and lower body struc ture.

Figure 13 is a longitudinal vertical section taken approximately on the line 22 of Figure 6 12. Figure 14 is a side elevation of the structure shown in Figures 12 and 13.

Figure 15 is a detail vertical longitudinal section taken on the line l5l5 of Figure 12. 10

Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21 are vertical transverse sections taken on the corresponding section lines of Figure 12.

Figure 22 is a half end view of the vehicle looking towards the right-hand end of the same. 15

Figure 23 is a similar end view looking towards the left-hand end of the vehicle.

Figure 24 is a detail transverse vertical section through a portion of a brake receiving housing illustrating a modification in the mounting arrangement.

Figure 25 is a vertical section on the line 2525 of Figure 24.

In the structure illustrated in Figures 1 to 11, the car underframe and lower body structure 25 comprises a single casting having a floor central section I, elevated floor sections 2, vertical Webs l4 connecting sections I and 2, sections 2 terminating in upstanding flanges 3 to which the upper portions of the car walls may be secured, end sills 4 and 5 including similar upstanding flanges 6 to which the upper portions of the car end walls may be secured.

Floor section I is provided with transverse corrugations 1 adapted to receive and house the car axles 8, and renewable axle bearing elements 9 are seated in the outer ends of corrugations l. Axle retaining bars I 0 are associated with hearing plates 9 and the ends of these elements are preferably secured together and to the car floor, as is best shown in Figure 4, the floor having an indentation II for accommodating the ends of these elements.

The left-hand end sill 4 includes an inner vertical wall I2 and an outer vertical wall [3. The upper portion of wall I 2 extends in a straight line from side to side of the car but the lower portion of the wall is inclined rearwardly and outwardly and merges and terminates with vertical web It at a point spaced from the end of the car. Outer wall I 3 extends inwardly from each side of the center line of the car and merges with the end of web ll. The upper and lower walls l5 and I6 of the end sill extend between vertical webs 14 only and with walls I2 and I3 form a box-shaped sill structure across the center portion of the car. A relatively short horizontal flange |1 projects outwardly from the upper portion of wall l2 and cooperates with upper wall |5 to form a jaw for receiving a draft element (not shown).

End sill 5 includes an outer wall I8, the upper part of which extends from side to side of the car, but the lower portion of which terminates with the vertical webs M. An inner wall I8 is inclined inwardly and downwardly from wali'18 and terminates with webs I l. The lower portion of wall I8 is flanged inwardly; as indicated at l5, to form an end sill of. triangular section. Vertical ribs 20 at intervals across the end sill serve to brace the two walls and preferably the outer wall I8 is provided with pads 2| forming seats for buffing springs S and housing H, these seats being backed up by ribs 20.

The floor and end sill structure described provides for the transmission of bufling and pulling forces from end to end of the car, and providesfor the secure mounting of the vehicle axles in a manner which will tend to eliminate any racking or other distortion of the vehicle body by rough or uneven track, rail and switch joints, debris on the tracks, and similar injurious elements. The axle housings I provide protecting shrouds to prevent damage to axles or distortion or disalinement of the axle bearing elements from foreign matter on roadway or when car is off the roadway.

Intermediate axle housings I, the central floor section I is provided with a relatively smaller corrugation 22 forming an upwardly extending recess for a brake operating shaft 23 extending transversely of the car and seated in bearing plates 24 secured to the car floor by retaining elements 25 similarly to the securing of axles 8. This recess protects the brake shaft and bearings ,in a similar manner to that previously described for the axle.

Intermediate car wheels 26 the elevated sections 2 of the car floor are provided with upstanding recesses 21 arranged to receive the upper ends of brake hangers 28, the same bein pivotally supported by pins 29 seated in the sides of recesses 21. When the car is empty, pins 29 may be withdrawn easily and the hangers and brakes carried thereby may be removed for replacement or repairs. This advantage is particularly noticeable in connection with vehicles as illustrated in co-pending application 616,673 in which axle mounting elements depend from the floor at the side of the brake hanger recess thereby rendering access to the recess from below even more difilcult than in the present structure.

The brakes are operated by cams 30 mounted on shaft 23, the latter being rotated by crank 3| which is actuated by connecting rod 32 extending longitudinally of the car in the recess between web l4 and floor section 2 to a point near the lefthand end of the car where an operating lever 33 is fulcrumedat 30 one pin seated in brackets 35 projecting downwardly from the lower face of an a upwardly extending recess 38 provided in the elevated floor section 2.

The adjacent side wall flange 3 is ofiset inwardly at 31 to accommodate the brake operating lever 33 and parts associated therewith. A bracket 35a is provided in recess 31 to support the outer end of fulcrum pin.

At each side of the car and below floor side section 2 are provided a pair of brackets 38 which cooperate with the adjacent portion of the floor to receive and engage projecting elements on a car dumping machine (not shown) whereby the car may be retained when inverted and its load their lower portions.

discharged. These brackets are integral with the rest of the car structure and include a web 39 on the side of the bracket spaced from the adjacent wheel and extending downwardly to the lower portion of web It. A more shallow rein forcing rib 40 braces the inner end of the bracket from the inner portion of the elevated floor section I. These ribs also brace the elevated floor portions 2. I

Vertical webs I4 are spaced apart a greater distance at the end portion of the car than at the center of the car to provide greater capacity and at the same time to accommodate the running gear. The elevated floor sections 2 are conically indented, as indicated at 4|, to accommodate the upper portions of the car wheels. This conical formation while giving increased capacity also reduces the tendency to create voids and permits freer discharge of the lading. In various other details the structure is shaped to provide maximum capacity in a manner which is not approached by structures used heretofore where the floor and other parts were not or could not be shaped to accommodate under-equipment, brake rigging, and clearance requirements as readily as the structure illustrated.

Figures 12 to 23 illustrate another form of this type of car embodying most of the features described above but characterized in having central floor section 50, widest at the center, and in having depressed side floor sections 5| at the ends of the cardocated at substantially the same level as the central section, the side portions 52 intermediate portions 5| being at a substantially higher level to clear the wheels and outside wheel hubs 53. Longitudinal corrugations 68 extend dia onally from each end sill to the wheel housing and are provided with transverse braces 69 at Another similar arrangement is shown in above-mentioned co-pending application Serial No. 616,673. This construction provides trussed combined draft and buffing columns consisting of diagonal elements 68 and side portions 52. The elements 68 are joined transversely at their extremities by end sills l6 and axle housings 11. This, while, effectively transmitting the end sill forces longitudinally,.at the same time increases the area of floor portions 5| and reduces the tendency of large pieces of load material to bridge and form voids.

The right-hand end sill is provided with draft mounting horizontal flanges 54 for a yielding buffer projecting a substantial distance beyond the main vertical wall 55 of the end sill, and this latter wall is inclined rearwardly, as at 56, at the sides of the car whereby clearance is provided between coupled oars when run over very sharp curves.

The left-hand end sill includes-inner and outer walls 51 and 58, respectively, extending across the end of the car. Wall 58 provides an unyielding buffer face and a drawbar housing 59 projects outwardly from the central portion of the car end.

The toggle brake is operated by a lever 60 fulcrumed at 6| on the floor vertical web 62 and extending outwardly and arranged to be thrust downwardly by link 53 connected to the crank 64 of an operating shaft 65 which extends longitudinally of the car to a point beyond the end sill where its handle 66 maybe operated. This shaft is journaled in bearings 10 formed integrally with the side walls 1|. This arrangement eliminates the necessity of recessing the sideof the car for the upright actuating handle and also eliminates the necessity of a recess in the floor web piece cast a brake hanger having for the brake mechanism as provided in the structure previously described. However, the lower portion of the side wall is recessed, as indicated at R, (Figure 21), to accommodate shaft 65. A diagonal brace 61 (Figure 18) is located between the wheels and extends from the outer edge of the floor side section 52 inwardly and downwardly to the vertical web 62.

Figures 24 and 25 illustrate a modification of the brake hanger mounting structure which utilizes an upwardly extending recess I2 in the car floor, the opposing walls of the same being provided with integral cup-like elements 13 and the brake hanger 14 having lateral lugs or trunnions 15 seated in elements 13. This arrangement eliminates openings through the walls of the recess for pins, as previously described, and obviously the brake hanger may be assembled and disassembled readily and without the use of fulcrum pins.

The cars described above have been designed for use in coal mines and for such use the onestructure has been found highly desirable, and other characteristic features have been adopted to meet peculiar conditions in one or more mines. It will be understood that forms of floor and associated parts other than cast units may be used and that some features shown and described may be modified or eliminated without affecting the use of other features of the invention and obviously vehicles of the type described may be employed in various kinds of service other than in mines and the applicant contemplates the exclusive use of all new and useful features of the invention coming within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A vehicle floor forming web having a portion recessed upwardly to provide a housing for the upper .part of a brake hanger and its supporting element, said housing including end walls adjacent to and extending alongside of said parts.

2. In a vehicle of the class described, a floor provided with a portion elevated to accommodate a wheel, a part of said portion being recessed upwardly to receive the upper portion of a brake hanger and a mounting element therefor.

3. In a vehicle of the class described, a floor forming web having a relatively narrow upwardly extending recess including spaced vertical walls, its upper end positioned in said recess, and means on said walls for suspending said hanger.

4. In a vehicle of the class described, a floor", a side wall extending upwardly from said floor and having a restricted portion near one end only ofiset laterally of the vehicle, and a brake operating element positioned in said offset portion.

5. In a vehicle of the class described, spaced wheels and a floor portion lying between said wheels, an upward recess in said floor extending transversely thereof and a brake operating shaft located in said recess.

6. A vehicle car floor having an upward recess extending transversely of the vehicle and including integral bearing structure, said recess and structure being arranged to receive and journal a brake operating shaft. I

7. In a vehicle of the class described, a floor comprising a central cated at a higher level than said central portion, an upward recess in said central portion, a brake operating shaft received in said recess, an upward recess in at least one of said side portions,

portion, side portions 10- and a brake hanger suspended in said latter-mentioned recess.

B. In a vehicle of the class described, a floor having an upward recess for receiving a brake crank and a connecting rod actuated thereby, whereby the same may be within the normal contour of the floor structure so as to clear exterior objects near the vehicle.

9. In a vehicle of the class described, a side wall, a floor, a portion of said wall being offset inwardly to receive a brake operating handle, a portion of said floor being offset upwardly to receive a crank cooperating with said handle and an actuating rod leading from said crank longitudinally of the vehicle.

10. In a vehicle of the class described, a side wall, a floor, a portion of said wall being offset inwardly to receive a brake operating handle, a portion of said floor being offset upwardly and longitudinally of the vehicle to receive a crank cooperating with said handle and an actuating rod leading therefrom, other portions of said floor being oiIset upwardly and transversely of the vehicle to receive a brake operating shaft extending between brakes located on opposite sides of the vehicle.

11. A structure as described in claim 10 in which the floor and side wall, including the offset portions, are parts of an integral structure.

12. A railway vehicle fioor forming web having I a portion recessed upwardly to provide a housing for a brake hanger, there being a brake operating element fulcrum integral with the side of said portion and the latter being restricted in area to the extent required for said hanger and fulcrum.

13. In a vehicle of the class described; an axle and wheels, a floor with its major portion below the level of said axle but provided with an upward recess, there being an upward indentation in said floor at each side .of said recess, a renewable axle bearing element seated in said recess with its ends turned outwardly and received in said indentations, and an axle retaining bar having its ends also received in said recess.

14. In a vehicle of the class described, a fi'oor' comprising a main center portion and a side portion located at a higher level than said center portion, and depending elements integral with said side portion and forming therewith a pocket for receiving the vehicle engaging member of a dumping device.

15. In a vehicle of the class described, a floor comprising a main center portion and a side portion located at a higher level than said center portion, an upright web connecting said portions, a downwardly and outwardly projecting bracket of restricted length forming a pocket for receiving a vehicle dumping device member, there being a vertical rib at the end of said bracket extending inwardly to said web.

16. In a vehicle of the class described, an axle and wheels, a fioor having a relatively low central portion and side portions overlying said wheels,

fioor portion, relatively elevated side floor portions, upright webs between said floor portions, an outwardly projecting elongated member of box section extending across the end of the vehicle, an outwardly projecting, horizontal flange of restricted length above said member and forming therewith a drawbar pocket spaced inwardly from the outer face of said member, the end portions of the inner wall of said member being inclined rearwardly and merging with said webs.

18. In a vehicle of the class described, a central floor portion positioned in close proximity to the vehicle track, an end sill of triangular cross section having a lower horizontal element at substantially the same level as said floor portion, and flanges extending outwardly from the upper and lower portions of said sill and forming draft housing walls.

19. A structure as specified in claim 18 which also includes a bufier spring seat on said end sill and a vertical rib between the upright sides of said end sill and behind said seat.

20. In combination, a vehicle floor having an upwardly extending recess provided with spaced walls, there being upwardly facing concave seats on said walls opposed to each other, and a brake hanger positioned between said seats with lateral trunnions resting thereon.

21. A railway vehicle floor casting including a narrow upwardly extending downwardly open recess provided with spaced apart opposed upwardly facing bearings for supporting a brake hanger.

22. In a vehicle of the class described, a floor comprising a main center portion and a side portion located at a higher level than said center portion, an upright web connecting said portions, a downwardly and outwardly projecting bracket of restricted length forming a pocket for receiving a vehicle dumping device member, there being a vertical rib at the end of said bracket extending upwardly to said side portion.

23. In a vehicle of the class described, end sills,

tions extending between said housings at points adjacent the inner ends of said diagonal corrugations.

25. In a vehicle of the class described, an end sill, a floor web having a longitudinally extending corrugation forming a wheel housing, there being a relatively narrow corrugation extending from the end of said housing diagonally inwardly of the vehicle to said end sill.

26. In a vehicle of the class described, a central floor portion, longitudinally disposed upright webs at the sides of said central floor portion, andan end sill of triangular cross section extending across the end of said floor portion and terminating at said webs, the outer wall of said sill having an upward projection above the level of said sill extending laterally beyond the ends of said sill.

27. In a vehicle of the class described, a side wall, a portion of said wall being offset inwardly and a bracket in said offset integral with said wall and arranged to receive a brake operating handle.

'28. In a vehicle of the class described, an axle and wheels, 9. floor having its major portion below the level of said axle but having an upwardly recessed portion including a projection forming a bearing seat in which said axle is journaled, there being an upward indentation in the floor at each side of said recessed portion for receiving an axle-retaining bar.

WILLIAM M. SHEEHAN. 

